At a Glance
- Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther” breaks the Billboard Hot Rap Songs record with 27-week reign.
- GNX tops U.S. rap album charts for a record 22 weeks, surpassing Pop Smoke.
- Grand National Tour grosses $256 million, setting a co-headlining revenue record in North America.
Kendrick Lamar has shattered a major milestone on the Billboard charts with his hit collaboration “Luther” featuring SZA.
The track now holds the record as the longest-running number one on the Hot Rap Songs chart since its inception in 1989.
‘Luther’ dominates Billboard Hot rap songs chart
“Luther” has impressively maintained the No. 1 spot for 27 weeks, surpassing Lamar’s own previous record set last year with “Not Like Us,” which spent 26 weeks atop the chart.
Additionally, the song claimed 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and also reached 32 million views on Youtube, cementing its mainstream crossover success.
Meanwhile, Lamar’s latest album, GNX, has been the No. 1 rap album in the U.S. for a record-breaking 22 weeks.
This achievement eclipses Pop Smoke’s Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon, which held the top spot for 21 weeks posthumously.
The album’s endurance highlights Kendrick’s sustained dominance in hip-hop.
Grand National Tour sets revenue records
On the touring front, Kendrick Lamar and SZA are rewriting the playbook. Their Grand National Tour stands as the highest-grossing co-headlining tour ever, grossing over $256 million across just 23 shows in the US and Canada.
Averaging $11.1 million per show, the duo has sold more than 1.1 million tickets, with average attendance hitting 48,000 fans per concert.
The tour, now nearing its North American finale, has delivered electric performances, including a memorable June show in Toronto.
SZA took a heartfelt moment during their Maryland stop to praise Lamar’s influence on her career, calling their shared journey “the biggest moment” of her life.
Overcoming challenges on tour
Despite the tour’s massive success, SZA has openly discussed her struggles with anxiety. In a candid Interview Magazine feature, she revealed panic attacks before performances and doubts about sharing the stage with Lamar.
“Everybody’s going to see Kendrick. I don’t even know if I have anything to show these people that’s exciting and new,” she admitted. Her vulnerability has endeared her further to fans.
Kendrick Lamar: The defining voice of Hip-Hop
Lamar’s recent accolades reinforce his position as a rap heavyweight.
Fresh off a historic sweep at the 67th Grammy Awards and multiple wins at the American Music Awards — including Favorite Hip-Hop Song for “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar continues to lead the genre with both critical and commercial acclaim.
